i've been using the nickname"tarheel",on the internet for a little over 3 years now and it still amazes me the number of folks who ask me where,why,how,what is a tarheel...many in members in mudcat chat here,always ask me too...well,if you are from north carolina,you are a tarheel...it comes from a legend in the "war for southern independence." aka,the civil war!there are many versions,but this is my short version...it may have happened,maybe not,but we tarheels love it!anyway,during that period of time in our state,1860-1864,north carolina was the main producer of tar and turpentine for the war effort...and it seems that a regiment of northern soldiers were chasing some north carolina rebels and the rebels were making good time towards getting away...and as the legend goes,a northern soldier yelled,"put some TAR on their HEELS,to slow them down!"...well,when general lee heard about this encounter,he remarked,"God bless them tarheels!"...so now you know,the rest of the story!